Cassini’s findings have revolutionized our understanding of Sa
turn\, its complex rings\, the amazing assortment of moons and the planet
’s dynamic magnetic environment. The robotic spacecraft arrived in 2004
after a 7-year flight from Earth\, dropped a parachuted probe to study the
atmosphere and surface of Saturn’s big moon Titan\, and commenced makin
g astonishing discoveries that continue today. Icy jets shoot from the tin
y moon Enceladus\; Titan’s hydrocarbon lakes and seas are dominated by l
iquid ethane and methane\, and complex pre-biotic chemicals form in the at
mosphere and rain to the surface. Cassini’s findings at Saturn have also
fundamentally altered many of our concepts of how planets form around sta
rs. Spilker will present highlights from 10 years of Cassini’s ambitious
inquiry at Saturn.